KABUL, May 20 (Xinhua) -- A four-day pharmaceutical exhibition opened in the capital, Kabul, on Tuesday, highlighting Afghanistan's growing domestic drug manufacturing capabilities, the office of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs announced.
The second Specialized National and International Exhibition of Abu Ali Sina Balkhi was inaugurated by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan.
Addressing the ceremony, Baradar emphasized that domestic production now meets the majority of the population's pharmaceutical needs, marking a notable step toward healthcare self-reliance, according to the office's statement.
He further stated that the government is actively pursuing stronger economic connectivity with regional and neighboring countries while simultaneously strengthening the national economy.
Dozens of pharmaceutical companies are participating in the exhibition, displaying a wide range of medicines, raw materials, and advanced pharmaceutical technologies, the statement added.
According to official figures, 134 pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are currently operational across Afghanistan. These factories produce 1,170 different types of medicines, have attracted around 450 million U.S. dollars in investment, and currently fulfill 38 percent of the country's total pharmaceutical demand.■
